Caribbean
Eastern Caribbean
Breathtaking natural beauty combined with old-world charm defines the magical allure of the Eastern Caribbean. With a distinctive fusion of European, African and Latin American influences, this region boasts quaint towns alive with diverse cultures amongst a breathtaking backdrop of swaying palm trees, velveteen sands and turquoise waters accented with rainbow fish. The locals are friendly, the duty-free shops bustling and the cultures fascinating. Soak up the sun, adopt its laid-back island mindset and explore coral reefs teeming with marine life on an Eastern Caribbean cruise vacation, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale for a quick weekend getaway, one week, or even longer!
The Caribbean is a shopper’s paradise. Head to St. Maarten’s Front Street, Grenada’s St. George Harbor or the Venezuelan village of Tacuantar for local crafts. For fine leather, cameras, jewelry and art, the U.S. Virgin Island’s Charlotte Amalie and San Juan’s Condado and Isla Verde are your best bets.
The natural beauty of the Eastern Caribbean is sure to delight, from St. Lucia’s twin volcanic peaks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Antiguan and Puerto Rican rainforests, Grand Turk’s renowned coral reefs and more.
This Caribbean region boasts a richly diverse heritage with British colonial roots in Antigua, Grand Turk’s Bermudan influences, and of course, the rich Dutch and French cultures of extraordinary St. Maarten.
Hug a sea lion on St. Thomas, soar through the Barbados rainforest by zip line, ride horseback along Grand Turk’s beach, and even sail a racing yacht while visiting St. Maarten! And on itineraries with More Ashore Late Night calls, we stay until at least 9 p.m. in port so you can also experience some of the fabulous nightlife.
Fall in love, or back in love, celebrate your golden anniversary, blow out all the candles. We go the extra mile to make your birthday, wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or renewal of vows the most memorable yet. Princess helps create moments you’ll savor for years to come.
The US Virgin Islands are America’s paradise, offering an easygoing blend of island ways and American practicality. St. Thomas, capital of the island group, offers every imaginable sport: snorkeling, golfing, hiking, and sailing.
MoreJust a few miles away lay St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. Stunning mountain scenery, crystalline waters, and white-sand beaches with palms swaying in the breeze - the US Virgin Islands are truly a slice of paradise. The harbor is easily one of the Caribbean’s most scenic. The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million in gold. St. Thomas has a reputation as a duty free-mecca for shopping.
One of the world’s best beaches as selected by "National Geographic" magazine.
Blackbeard’s Castle, a center for popular lore, can be reached by either walking up the "99 Steps" or via ship’s tour.
This 4.5-acre marine park offers an underwater observatory with 360-degree views of fish and other sea creatures, and the opportunity to pet sharks and hand feed stingrays.
This totally rebuilt mecca on top of a mountain, features souvenir shopping and excellent views of St. Thomas and its neighboring islands. It is considered to be the birthplace of the banana daiquiri.
Nestled high in the peaks of St. Thomas, this scenic location was originally part of the 150-acre Plantation St. Peter. Today the Great House boasts classic West Indian architecture and 150 species of Caribbean plants and fruits.
The smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands is only a 30-minute ferry ride away. Two thirds of the island is a national park. Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins and Trunk Bay are two favorite sights.
The island’s underwater world is beautifully unveiled to both snorkelers and divers, exhibiting sunken boat wrecks, breathtaking coral reefs and a colorful spectrum of marine life.
Virgin Gorda and Tortola are just two of several islands under British rule. Both are laid back and scenic with attractions like The Baths and swimming with the dolphins.
The largest of the British Leeward Islands, Antigua (pronounced an-tee-ga) boasts one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular coastlines with secluded coves and sun-drenched beaches. The island’s rolling hills are dotted with stone sugar mills, relics from the bygone era when sugar was king.
MoreHistoric Nelson’s Dockyard, where Admiral Horatio Nelson quartered his fleet in 1784, attests to Antigua’s long and colorful nautical history during colonial times. And St. John’s, the island’s bustling capital, offers visitors a wealth of boutiques, restaurants and pubs.
Explore the finest example of a British naval yard in the Caribbean. Visit the museum, boutiques, and restored buildings that are part of the area’s designated national park.
Commanding views of English Harbor and Nelson’s Dockyard can be found at this breathtaking photo stop and historical site, originally built as a signal station to alert troops of approaching ships.
A multimedia presentation celebrates Antigua’s colorful history from prehistoric days to the present. The grounds also contain historic ruins and a display of 18th-century artifacts collected from the island.
This picturesque road winds through lush vegetation, rainforest foliage, and fruit groves. You’ll see sugar mills and quaint churches, but don’t expect to see figs: in Antiguan, the word means "bananas."
Swim with the "Brightest Rays in the Caribbean" in a safe, aquatic adventure that is fun for the whole family. Calm, clear waters, knowledgeable instructors, and a pristine coral reef enhance your experience.
With 365 pristine white-sand beaches, Antigua boasts a beach for every day of the year. Tranquil turquoise waters beckon you to swim and snorkel while the sparkling shores invite you to relax in the sunshine.
This islet three kilometers northeast of Antigua is smaller than most city parks. Early sailors were amazed by the number of birds nesting there.
The thrill of a zipline tour gives visitors a unique perspective of the amazing Antiguan rainforest as they climb across bridges and soar high above the rich flora that grow within.
Jagged volcanoes soaring above azure and turquoise seas, dense rainforests in myriad shades of green, rolling fields of sugarcane--welcome to St. Kitts. Along with its neighbor, Nevis, St. Kitts presents an exotic landscape more common to Polynesia than the Caribbean.
MoreThe islands’ terrain, rich soil, and climate made them ideal locations for raising sugarcane. In fact, St. Kitts and Nevis were once the crown jewels of the Caribbean. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain, France and England vied for control of the islands, with the English finally winning out in 1787. Today, British and French heritage is evident on both islands. Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts, boasts fine, restored colonial buildings. Impressive Brimstone Hill Fortress, called the "Gibraltar of the West Indies," is one of the most impressive fortresses in the Caribbean.
The Gibraltar of the West Indies boasts expansive views overlooking St. Kitts and Nevis. One of the best preserved military fortresses in the Americas, Brimstone Hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The oldest sugar plantation on St. Kitts was once owned by Sam Jefferson II, an ancestor of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The property contains ruins, petroglyphs, botanic gardens, and rainforest.
Masters of the ancient Indonesian technique of wax resist dyeing; the artisans of Caribelle Batik transform Sea Island cotton into beautiful garments that are sold in the shop at Romney Manor.
The St. Kitts Scenic Railway is a vintage double-decker sightseeing train that showcases an historic sugar cane route. Refreshments and live entertainment add to the adventure.
Wealthy landowners during the early estate days of St. Kitts have left behind grand homes which have been restored and filled with antiques.
Pinney’s Beach is three miles long stretching from just outside of Charlestown to Cades Bay on Nevis. It is considered to be one of the loveliest beaches on this charming sister island of St. Kitts.
Once sprawling with sugar plantations, this reef-laden Caribbean gem boasts rainforests and tropical gardens that have enticed the likes of many a suitor, including the late Princess Diana.
Sailing, kayaking and rainforest walks are popular diversions for those seeking adventure.
For a taste of Europe with Caribbean flavor, look no farther than Nassau. The main city on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, Nassau offers everything from British-influenced cricket games and bewigged judges to Riviera-style casinos.
MoreAnd its banking system, with its strict secrecy laws, rivals that of Switzerland. Situated less than 75 miles from the coast of Florida, the islands of the Bahamas lure visitors with their tropical landscapes and clear waters. More than 700 islands, covering some 100,000 square miles, make up this popular archipelago, although only 20 or so are inhabited. Most of the island nation’s 330,000 inhabitants live on New Providence Island, centered around bustling Nassau with its colorful waterfront area and open-air markets.
Envision an Atlantis-inspired resort rising from the sea in a swirl of fanciful architecture with everything from an art-filled casino to a nightclub, spa, dolphin habitat and Mayan Temple Waterslide.
This is the place to see and be seen - from the famed Vegas-style Atlantis resort to the Hog Island Lighthouse, a 14th-century French monastery and one casino, golf link or tennis court after another.
See the moat, draw-bridge, and dungeons and walk the ramparts overlooking beautiful Nassau Harbor. This impressive structure, built in 1789, bears the name of King George III’s beloved queen.
Iguanas, monkeys, and jaguars - oh my! Encounter as many as 300 species, hand-feed endangered parrots and applaud the legendary marching flamingos while supporting Ardastra Garden’s conservation program.
These famous hand-carved limestone steps are the handiwork of 18th-century slaves. The 102-foot, 65-step staircase provides a challenging shortcut to the bulwarks of Fort Fincastle atop Bennet’s Hill.
Explore underwater without getting wet! You’ll be mesmerized by the ever-changing scenery of the coral reef as your semi-submarine plies pristine waters brimming with a rainbow of tropical fish.
Take the plunge at a shallow reef like Nari Nari or Goulding Cay where the conditions are ideal for an afternoon of spectacular snorkeling. Look for fan coral, shipwrecks, angelfish, and stingrays.
The Bahamas are famous for their aquamarine waters, sugary beaches and dazzling seaside resorts. Enjoy a private beach day on Balmoral Island which offers activities like dolphin or stingray encounters.
Grand Turk, the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, is a small island bursting with turn-of-the-century Caribbean charm, retaining the look and feel of the Caribbean 40 years ago. Grand Turk was founded by Bermudan salt rakers some three centuries ago and its Bermudan-British-colonial architecture surrounded by colorful local dwellings make the island a treasure to visit.
MoreIt is recognized as being one of the first places in the New World where Christopher Columbus landed and also gained worldwide attention when John Glenn splashed down near Grand Turk on his historic first mission to space. Grand Turk is six miles long and just over a mile wide with a population of only 6,000. It is blessed with miles of uncrowded, beautiful beaches and is close to several uninhabited cays such as Gibb’s Cay, home of the stingray encounter. While there are many landside attractions to explore such as the Old Prison, Lighthouse Park, and the re-created salt salina, the real beauty of the island lies underwater. Grand Turk is world-famous for its healthy and beautiful coral reefs that surround the island, stretching almost from the coastline to the 7,000-foot vertical wall just offshore.
Historic 18th-and 19th-century Bermudian architecture lines the long, narrow streets of Cockburn Town, the administrative capital of Turks and Caicos.
The museum, located in one of the oldest stone buildings on the islands, chronicles Grand Turk’s history from 700 A.D. to modern times and features artifacts from the Molasses Reef wreck.
More than 150 years ago, this lighthouse was brought from the U.K. to help halt shipwrecks on Grand Turk’s reefs. Today, it’s a prized historic site, protected by the National Trust.
The unspoiled, uninhabited island of Gibb’s Cay is located about a mile from Grand Turk. A luxurious white-sand beach and fascinating snorkeling make this a favorite among visitors.
Enjoy one of Grand Turks’ beautiful beaches.
The crystal-clear waters and underwater visibility are trademarks of Grand Turk.
Grand Turk offers horseback riding, biking, dune buggies, kayaking - and even a Flowrider® near the pier.
Tour Grand Turk’s "Salt House," a museum that focuses on the island’s salt and slave trade heritage. You can even purchase a variety of culinary salt blends on site!